Apparatus for operating moving targets.



No. 724,330. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903.

J. W. PORTER.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING MOVING TARGETS.

" APPLICATION FILED DEO.15. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES FFICE.

PATENT APPARATUS FOR OPERATING MOVING TARGETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 724,330, dated March 31, 1903.

Application filed December 16, 1902, Serial No. 135,331. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN WILLIAM PORTER, ranger, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at the Rifle Ranges, Williamstown, in the State of Victoria and Commonwealth of Australia, have-invented Improved Apparatus for Operating Moving Targets on Miniature Ranges, of which the following is a specification.

Rifle practice with miniature ammunition has recently come into much favor on account of the facility of obtaining and convenience of ranges for such purposes, while its instructional value in the training of troops at an insignificant expense and its interest as a pastime to the non-professional render the provision of a simple and efficientmeans for operating moving targets on such ranges of the highest importance;

This invention has been devised for the purpose of attaining that object, and the apparatus, briefly stated, comprises a traveler running to and fro on a pair of rails continuously and carrying a rotatable target adapted to be rotated at irregular intervals through an angle of ninety degrees, so as to turn the same edge on and face on alternately,

thereby efiecting an irregularly-intermittent disappearance and reappearance of a moving target.

The accompanyingdrawings illustrate my improved apparatus;

Figure 1 is a plan thereof; Fig. 2, an enlarged plan of the under side of the traveler, and Fig. 3 an enlarged end elevation of said traveler. Fig. at is a fragmentary perspective sketchillustrating grip on said traveler. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged perspective views of the spring-operated arm and tappet-wheel, respectively, illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan illustrating a modification.

A represents a pair of horizontal rails upon which the traveler or carrier B runs continuously to and fro, beingoperatedby the endless draft wire or cord 0, to which it is attached byvmeans of a pivoted rotatable arm D. Motion is imparted to the wire from a convenient motor E, suchas a spring selfwinding clockwork-escapement driven by a suspended weight. I

The target F is mounted on a vertical spindle G, having hearings in the traveler B, and

four equidistant radial projectionsH, adapted to strike against pins J, projecting from a rotatable rod A, mounted between the rails A, so as to rotate said spindle through an angle of ninety degrees each time a pin strikes a projection, and thereby cause the target to disappear and reappear alternately.

In order that the target may not be liable to turn when hit,- it is held in position by suit able spring-retaining mechanism, which, as illustrated in-Figs. 2, 5, and 6, consists of a spring-operated arm K, having a notch L in its head adapted to engage and retain teeth arranged on each end of the rod A, causing a partial revolution of the rod A on each run of the traveler. v

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 7 the fingers N are curved to form cam-guides, while the cam-faces 0, Fig. 1, are replaced by radial arms 0, practically constituting a reversal of the previously-described arrangement.

Q, Fig. 2, indicates guides on the under side of the traveler to insure the pins J contacting squarely with the projections H, and R a vertical guide in which the pivoted arm or grip D works when rounding the pulleys, Fig. 4.

Briefly described, theoperation is as follows: Motion being imparted to the endless wire or cord 0, the traveler or carrier B willbe reciprocated along the rails A, the tappetarms H during the motion of the traveler orcarrier being operated by the projections J upon the rod A to give to the arbor or shaft of the target F a quarter-turn upon each operation of the shaft. When the traveler reaches the ends of the rails, the rod A, as hereinbefore set forth, is given a partial turn upon said spindle is a tappet-wheel having in order to bring a different set of projections J into position for use.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. An improved apparatus for operating moving targets'on miniature ranges comprising a traveler, rails for supporting the traveler, a rotatable target mounted upon the traveler, means for intermittently rotating the target through an angle of approximately ninety degrees, so as to turn the same edge on and face on alternately, and yieldable means supported independently of the targetoperati-ng means for retaining the target in its different positions, said yieldable means being operated by the target-operatin g means, as the latter is turned in order to momen tarily release the target.

2. An apparatus for operating moving'targets on miniature ranges, a traveler, means for operating the traveler, a spindle upon the traveler carrying a target and a tappet-wheel, means for operating the tappet-wheel in order to partially rotate the spindle and thereby the target, and yieldable means for engaging the tappet to thereby normally maintain the target in a fixed position and operable by the tappet-operating means to momentarily release the target.

3. In apparatus for operating moving targets on miniature ranges a traveler running on a pair of horizontal rails said traveler having a rotatable pivoted arm or grip, an endless traveling wire attached to said arm or grip and a vertical guide for said arm or grip, substantially as specifiedand as illustrated.

4:. An apparatus for operating movin'g targets on miniature ranges, a traveler, means for operating said traveler, a target mounted upon the traveler and having atappet-wheel, means for intermittentlyv operating the tappet-wheel, teeth upon said tappet-wheel, and

6. An apparatus for operating moving targets on miniature ranges, a rotatable rod, a reciprocatory traveler having a target, projections upon the rod arranged in sets, means connected with the target for operation by said projections to turn the target as the traveler reciprocates, and means for turning said rod when the traveler reaches the opposite ends of its travel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WILLIAM PORTER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WATERS, EDWARD WATERS, J r. 

